Executive Presence Is an Energy, Not a Performance

Executive presence is often misunderstood as something you "perform"—how you dress, how you speak, how polished you appear, or how closely you match a preconceived idea of what a leader should look like. So when people receive feedback like "you need more executive presence," it can feel vague, frustrating, or even personal. Because it's rarely about appearance or personality—it's about something much more subtle. In this episode, we're breaking down why that feedback is often unclear, and what's actually going on underneath it. Executive presence isn't about performing leadership—it's about what your communication signals underneath the surface. It's the subtext, not the script. And at the core of it all is one quality: certainty. Not perfection. Not dominance. Not performance. But a grounded sense of certainty that shapes how you speak, listen, and hold space. I'll also walk you through 3 practical ways to begin embodying that quality so your presence becomes something people feel, not something you try to act out.   In this episode, you'll learn: Why "executive presence" feedback often feels vague or unhelpful How presence is communicated through subtext, not performance Why certainty—not polish—is the foundation of strong leadership presence 3 practical ways to embody more grounded, steady presence in real conversations If you've ever been told you need more executive presence—but weren't sure what to actually change—this episode will reframe everything. For more inspiration—and to watch my free training, The Calm and Confident Communicator—head over to speaktoinspire.com. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe so you never miss an upcoming tip to elevate your speaking skills. And I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a rating and review—it really helps more people find the show!